American Mile take snapshots of life with new album, ‘American Dream’

There are those records that feel ripped from everyday life. American Mile‘s latest record, American Dream, captures the beauty of living, scars and all. It’s like gazing into a mirror and seeing your existence playing out in real time. Its rustic exterior shimmers and encases a heartfelt retelling of what it means to be alive. Their plainspoken lyrics fall as glass shards as they aptly describe country living and dreaming big. With guitars thrashing in dusty production, the four-piece doesn’t hold back – their words carrying a profound importance as they ring like alarms in the desert air.

“Get On and Fly” kicks up dust as it picks up steam and eventually soars away from the gravel-soaked backroads. The follow-up, “Photograph of You,” feeling like a Dierks Bentley b-side, keeps that high-powered energy leaking from their rustic vessel. That cinematic punch fuels them, as they hang-glide over the earth, cresting mountain tops before making it back down into the valleys. And there’s a volatility to their music that’s unmistakable. “Wiggle for Me” and “Tough for Living” carry that same jingle-jangle in their back pocket, heavy on bristling guitars and growling vocals that cracked the seams.

In stark contrast, songs like “Waiting on Sunday” and “Straight from the Heartland” mull over the authenticity of living in small-town America. Their musical vibes are more subdued and restrained as they hone in on thoughtful, somber lyrics rooted in their real-life experiences. It’s that realism that roots American Dream to everyone in the country. Even if you live in the city, you can extract important lessons about living and dying. It’s that lyrical anchor that allows the group to fly in familiar musical patterns that also feels uniquely them. They adhere to country & western tradition but slather on their gumption and charm.

American Dream is a roadmap through the rural expanses of farmland and dirt roads. It’ll make you feel as though you’re reliving your youth, gathering up nuggets of wisdom, and learning how to take it all in stride as you move into old age. It’s that insightful country playbook that American Mile follows to a T while also bringing their advice that’s wholly their own. If you’re looking for a low-key, criminally overlooked album to dig into, this is it.

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